Full STEAM ahead to the future with integrated learning
Last updated on Sunday, May 17, 2020 | By Craig Gibson
Are your children future ready?
If you want your kids to be ready for the workforce of tomorrow then you need to sow the seeds in those sponge-like brains now, and prime them with a skillset to deal with the challenges of our increasingly tech driven world.
STEAM-based education - an integrated approach to learning with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths - is all about stimulating a child’s innovative and creative abilities. All signs are that it’s not some passing curriculum fad, but a way of preparing young people for the challenges of the 21st century. Kidsbook caught up with PIEX Education founder Liling Ong, who offer a program that covers all the STEAM bases - and more.
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PIEX Education Australia founder Liling Ong
We got the acronym from all the activities we cover: Play - Innovate - Educate and eXcel.
My background is in business and finance, but spending time with orphans in Cambodia I realised I wanted to have a positive impact on children’s lives. I left my finance career in February 2016 and started PIEX Education. I am currently completing my final subject for my Master of Education at UTS and I will be pursuing PhD in Education in 2021.
We need to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet. For this we should be cultivating students' conceptual and aesthetic capacities, critical thinking, problem solving and creative thinking skills.
Coding and robotics are one element of the courses PIEX run
Our unique S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths) program helps develop kids' social emotional skills through engaging in coding, robotics, engineering, science as well as creative arts like painting and storytelling.
It’s all about integrating concepts, rather than teaching these disciplines independently.
We don’t tie ourselves to a particular software. Instead we take a project-based approach that is aimed at helping children solve real life problems. Our program is also more than just coding and robotics, but aimed at developing integrated strategies towards critical and creative thinking. We believe this is a more holistic and effective approach.
The program is aimed at developing integrated strategies towards critical and creative thinking.
We have a three-day school holiday program for kids aged 6 to 12 at various locations. These allow kids to experience a range of fun and exciting activities including coding, robotics, origami, science experiments, mindfulness and more! We also run after school programs at public and private schools which are similar - where kids start with coding and move on to robotics and our other activities.
The current situation has obviously impacted the business significantly. We have had to move to a remote model, with our coaches and students interacting on Zoom. This is either one-on-one or small groups. We have also developed a Virtual Coding Program, which consists of videos, interactive quizzes, project activity sheets and assessment which allow children to work at their own pace anywhere in the world!
You can contact PIEX Education via their site, which has videos, resources and more!
If you want your kids to be ready for the workforce of tomorrow then you need to sow the seeds in those sponge-like brains now, and prime them with a skillset to deal with the challenges of our increasingly tech driven world.
How?
STEAM-based education - an integrated approach to learning with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths - is all about stimulating a child’s innovative and creative abilities. All signs are that it’s not some passing curriculum fad, but a way of preparing young people for the challenges of the 21st century. Kidsbook caught up with PIEX Education founder Liling Ong, who offer a program that covers all the STEAM bases - and more.
Quick read:
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- [li indent=0 align=left]STEAM develops critical thinking, problem solving and creative thinking skills.[/li][li indent=0 align=left]The A in STEAM stands for art.[/li][li indent=0 align=left]PIEX has a Virtual Coding Program so kids can get involved from home.[/li]
PIEX Education Australia founder Liling Ong
First of all - what does PIEX stand for?
We got the acronym from all the activities we cover: Play - Innovate - Educate and eXcel.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how PIEX Education got started...
My background is in business and finance, but spending time with orphans in Cambodia I realised I wanted to have a positive impact on children’s lives. I left my finance career in February 2016 and started PIEX Education. I am currently completing my final subject for my Master of Education at UTS and I will be pursuing PhD in Education in 2021.
What challenges do students face as we move into a tech-driven future?
We need to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet. For this we should be cultivating students' conceptual and aesthetic capacities, critical thinking, problem solving and creative thinking skills.
Coding and robotics are one element of the courses PIEX run
What is the focus of your program?
Our unique S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths) program helps develop kids' social emotional skills through engaging in coding, robotics, engineering, science as well as creative arts like painting and storytelling.
It’s all about integrating concepts, rather than teaching these disciplines independently.
How is PIEX different to other providers in this space?
We don’t tie ourselves to a particular software. Instead we take a project-based approach that is aimed at helping children solve real life problems. Our program is also more than just coding and robotics, but aimed at developing integrated strategies towards critical and creative thinking. We believe this is a more holistic and effective approach.
The program is aimed at developing integrated strategies towards critical and creative thinking.
What programs do you offer?
We have a three-day school holiday program for kids aged 6 to 12 at various locations. These allow kids to experience a range of fun and exciting activities including coding, robotics, origami, science experiments, mindfulness and more! We also run after school programs at public and private schools which are similar - where kids start with coding and move on to robotics and our other activities.
Kids get to experience a range of fun and exciting activities including coding, robotics, origami, science experiments, mindfulness and more! - PIEX Education founder Liling Ong
How have you adapted to the current scenario of social distancing?
The current situation has obviously impacted the business significantly. We have had to move to a remote model, with our coaches and students interacting on Zoom. This is either one-on-one or small groups. We have also developed a Virtual Coding Program, which consists of videos, interactive quizzes, project activity sheets and assessment which allow children to work at their own pace anywhere in the world!
About PIEX Education Australia
You can contact PIEX Education via their site, which has videos, resources and more!
